I'll do the real talk here. UmiMaki is the OTP. I don't really care about the popular or ''canon'' ships, period. They didn't hit me in the slightest. UmiMaki is the only ship that attracted me. So I decided to show how I see them together. I would never, ever pair these two with anyone but eachother, because they're made for eachother. Period. Now with said, let's dive in, shall we.
I've always loved you.
The school idol club's practice has come to an end for the day, but a certain composer was still on the school roof, at dusk.
The sky had turned into an reddish orange hue, and the sun was about to set; which means that night was closing by.
Her eyes looked upon her wrists, many cuts and scars visible. She let out a sigh and dug out a knife from her bag, gripping it forcefully.
She slowly neared the knife to her scar-filled wrists, taking a deep breath. She was hesitant; she always was. But she made up her mind, that this time,
she would do it harder and deeper.
"Maki, are you here?"
A familiar voice had caught her attention and disrupted her thoughts.
In a panic, Maki hurriedly shoved the weapon in her bag and zipped it, facing her senior before hiding her hand behind her back.
"A-a-ah. U-U-Umi? What's wrong? I told you guys you can l-leave before me!" Maki stutteringly says, avoiding eye-contact with her fellow composer.
Umi just tilted her head and raised an eyebrow at her suspiciously. "Excuse me..? And uh.. are you hiding something from me ?"
The midnight haired girl crossed her arms at the younger idol who flinched instantly and waved her hands at her in denial.
"O-Of course not! And? What's up?" She can't help it. Let's hear what she has to say, wave goodbye, and then cut her wrist.
Umi came closer, which worries maki a bit, but she paid it no mind. The older girl slowly opened her mouth to speak.
"What do you mean, Maki? You're staying at my place for a while, remember?"
Maki's eyes were filled with shock. She forgot. Her parents were flying abroad,
and they left her in the Sonoda residence's care. They won't fly until early dawn,
but they still can't keep her alone. Maki's lips twitched and her eyes widened,
cursing to herself. Umi was just waiting there, silently, for Maki.
"O…Oh, yeah... sorry. I forgot." She started "Then, l-let's go?" Maki says in a form of a question,
where the other could just blink at her and nod, having the sweetest smile ever. Maki's heart churned for a bit,
but she looked down and started walking off, with Umi behind her. The first year had kept silent the whole while,
having her hands behind her back, and her face facing the other way. She didn't want it to be like this, she–
A sudden touch caught her attention; she blinked a little and turned her head to her left hand.
Umi had caught her junior's hand and slowly intertwined it with hers, a smile visible on her face.
"Eh..?" Maki felt electricity run through her body at that slightest touch, and quickly let go,
leaving Umi aghast at Maki's sudden action. Maki's face was clearly red faced, but she denied it and started twirling her vibrant red locks in infuriation.
That was close, if she were to hold her hand even longer, she might find out about her scars.
"You looked a bit lonely, so I just..sorry, did it bother you?"
Umi felt strong pity towards Maki, who just shook her head in reply to umi's words.
It's not like she didn't want it, she did, but it made her scared. She can't die like this, with HER by her side.
She just laughed it off after apologizing. Umi just blinked at her and eyed her suspiciously, raising a brow in confusion.
She was acting very differently lately, not just today.
"Maki. I'll lend you my clothes for now, is that okay?"
She opens her closet, and turned her face towards the other.
The redhead, after stuttering, nodded instantly.
Umi reached her hand in her clothing closet to get out pajamas for Maki,
only to be stopped by her.
"Ah..if you don't mind, can I have a l-long sleeved one?
I-it's kinda cold.." Maki kindly requested scratching her cheek with her index,
making Umi stop and look at Maki for a few seconds, then took one out and gave it to her.
Maki sheepishly took the pieces of clothing, and blushed after seeing the other smiling tenderly at her.
The girl furrowed her brows and looked down, before getting into her change of clothes.
"Sorry if the bed is a bit cramped …" Umi says, as they both slipped through the sheets,
finding the comfort and warmth from the blankets. Maki could only shake her head in response,
and let out a hot exhale. What is with this intense atmosphere she's feeling right now?
Umi's voice was deeper than usual, and the tone in her voice show heavy sympathy.
Maki just shook it off and looked at her wrists once again and thought of a plan to dispose of herself without Umi's knowledge, but how?
"Maki.." the monotone voice by the other sent shivers down Maki's spine, which made her quickly shift her body to Umi's.
Her eyes widened; her senior's gleamy eyes were now dull, stating right into her soul.
A gulp was taken by Maki, as her throat went dry. The way her partner was looking at her creeped her out,
and scared her. "Are you… still cold?" Maki flinched and backed away a bit, wandering her eyes before denying it.
Her head moved right and left slowly, but Umi was still looking at her.
"I see…" Maki chuckled nervously and sent her back to face Umi now,
but she still felt a bad premonition of the other still staring at her like a doll.
A scary one. The younger idol hesitantly wrapped her hand on her neck,
remembering the vital points she read about. If she could only get it over with… she never got a chance to tell her… Umi I'm sorry.. … I always wi–
"Maki, you're not…." the girl in question jerked in her place , a sweat gland falling from her cheek slowly,
feeling very uneasy about what was going to happen.
"…planning on…killing yourself….are you?" Maki's eyes widened;
she couldn't believe what Umi just said, and felt like she was in grave danger.
Maki swallowed another knot that formed in her throat and backed her hand away from her neck.
Maki was a bit weary , but she gathered enough confidence to face the other.
"K-kill myself? Haha…w-what are you talking about? Umi...stop saying weir-"
"Your mother…" Umi started as Maki flinched in place.
"...called and told me to look out for you…since you were acting weird"
Umi had no tone in her voice at all; it remained dull, and it was as if she was dead.
"To be completely honest, I've been watching you for a while, since I've noticed as well.
If you're trying to commit suicide, then stop. Don't even go there.
I don't know what's bothering you, but… what you're doing is wrong. "
Maki knew, at this point, that she couldn't do anything .
But she still wants to keep feigning it, for her sake and Umi's.
However, the look on Umi's face tells it otherwise;
those serious dull honey orbs were very eerie,
it alarmed her strongly. Maki clenched her fists in fright, forcing a smile on her face.
"Maki.." her senior took a hold of her hand, much to Maki's dismay, and raised her sleeves up to get a better look.
The first year's eyes widened and she tried her best to explain, but Umi's eyes were the same,
terrified of what she was seeing. Deep red scratches and blood visibly shown, despite the slight darkness in the room.
"Why..? Why would you do this?!" Her voice now cracked and loud, Umi couldn't believe it.
Her brows arched in frustration and anger, clutching onto Maki's hurt hands.
"..you don't know how tough…. You don't know anything about me!
Stop...Umi...just stop sticking your nose into my business!"
"T…tell me! What's wrong? I'll help you out, so.. please, Maki ! "
Miss Nishikino was hard to convince, she was gritting her teeth in annoyance.
Why was she this desperate to help someone who she only just met half a year ago, or a bit more?
It's not like they were childhood friends, it's not like...
"It's not like..you'd understand…" she started off, then slapped Umi's hand away "just stay away from me.."
Maki quickly turned away and faced the other side, making Umi's blood boil. How could she possibly stay calm and act as if everything was normal.
"I can't. I can't leave you alone like this." Maki has had enough; why was she saying stuff like that? Why–
"Because… I care about you, Maki."
Maki's eyes gleamed for a second, as she bit her bottom lip.
She quickly sat up from her laying position and turned towards her friend simultaneously.
"NO, YOU DON'T! STOP ACTING LIKE YOU CARE ALREADY! NO ONE KNOWS HOW I FEEL! IM PRESSURED, STRESSED, WEAK, AND IM FORCED TO DO WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO!
HOW CAN SOMEONE LIKE YOU POSSIBLY UNDER…stand me..?" Maki let out as a single drop fell down her face, which flooded with tears eventually.
She started shouting at her for no reason, telling her how she couldn't take it any more. Umi only sat up and faced her wanting to hear the rest.
"Just for..get it.." Maki wiped away her tears and took a deep inhale before clenching her throat forcefully with her two bare hands.
"Maki! STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Umi felt her heart pound and she quickly came closer to her trying to free her neck from her trembling hands.
Maki started whispering "Umi… I'm sorry… forgive me.. I can't stay like this anymore… goodbye...I...I love you, Umi."
Maki slowly smiled, making Umi's heart sink at those words. Pools of tears started forming in her eyes, and she couldn't control them any longer.
"IF…IF YOU LOVE ME , STOP THIS!" Maki didn't hear a single word, and started using brute force against her breathing points.
Umi has had enough of this; she tensed her hand and immediately, without giving it another thought, slapped Maki's cheek, which scared her.
The archer instantly wrapped her arms around Maki and pulled her into a tight embrace. Maki's face burned up at her colleague's sudden action,
struggling to get out of Umi's warm, yet intense hug, which only resulted with Umi falling in top of her.
"P...please...Maki…l'll help you..I'll march to your father and talk things over with him. I'll always be by your side , so.."
Umi started saying between hiccups and sniffs, nuzzling into the latter's neck for more comfort.
Maki said nothing, thinking things in her head.
"Besides…if you're gone…I…I'll get sad! I don't want to lose you Maki! I love you! Please..stop it… I can't,.. take this anymore…."
her voice was nearly gone, trembling and shaking in fear. Maki's emotions were overflowing, her eyes were red, her face started glowing crimson,
she wanted to speak, but Umi beat her to it.
"Do you really want it to end like this? What will the others think? What about your parents, who are worried sick about you! What about yourself..
I know... and I can tell that you're scared..." Umi considerately placed her hand on Maki's, gently interlacing their fingers together.
Umi could hear soft sobs escaping the other, making her smile tenderly. "I..I..I'm...S-sorry….Umi.." Maki closed her eyes shut,
cuddling her, despite her slight embarrassment. Umi just started stroking her hair in a delicate manner .
"It's okay, Maki.. "
"Umi… I love you"
" ….I love you Maki."
The end
Everything went fine between them in the end as it should,could & would be.